Baron Burgh
Encyclopedia
Baron Burgh is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England
. The first creation was for William de Burgh in 1327.
The second, and still existing, peerage is of uncertain date. No Burgh sat in the House of Lords
before 1529; the grandfather of that Lord Burgh had been summoned to the House in 1487, but did not sit; whether this was sufficient to create a barony by writ is debatable.
The Barony was in abeyance
for over three hundred years; when it was called out of abeyance, in 1916, it was accorded precedence as of 1487.
; there is no evidence he attended. Some three weeks later, Henry VII signed a warrant ordering a writ to be issued for him, since the King intended to raise him to the pre-eminence of Barony, but no second writ was issued, nor was a patent. He was issued writs, but did not attend Parliament, for the rest of his life, until 1496; official documents call him a knight, not a peer.
His son, Sir Edward Burgh was never summoned to the House of Lords, although he was elected to the House of Commons in his father's lifetime. In 1510, he was found a lunatic, being "distracted of memorie." His wife was Anne Cobham
, by modern doctrine Baroness Cobham of Sterborough.
In the third generation, Sir Thomas Burgh, Sir Edward's son, was summoned to the first Parliament after his father's death, and admitted on 2 December 1529. In the sixteenth century, this was treated as a new creation; Thomas, Baron Burgh, yielded precedence to the Barons Hussey
, Windsor
, Wentworth
, all created 1 and 2 December 1529.
By modern law, the events of 1487 would not normally constitute a creation, for the elder Sir Thomas never sat as a peer; nevertheless, in 1916, the revived peerage was given precedence as of 1487. Sources vary, therefore, in calling the younger Sir Thomas 1st or 3rd Baron Burgh; this article calls him 1st, de jure 3rd.
; when he died in 1597, he left four daughters, all of whom married and had children, and an infant son. When his son died at the age of eight, the barony of Burgh (according to modern law) went into abeyance
between the daughters. By this, each daughter had a quarter share of the barony, which she transmitted to her heir; none of them holds the barony unless the Crown
decides which of the four co-heirs is to have it; in this case it was not decided until 1916. (The first exercise of this power was in 1604, two years after the death of the young Baron, in the case of Baron le Despencer
.)
The eldest daughter of the Lord Deputy, Elizabeth, had married George Brooke
, who was executed and attainted in 1603, for his part in the Bye Plot
against King James I
; he was heir to Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
, who was also attainted for his part in the Main Plot
. None of this affected Elizabeth Brooke's rights, and the abeyance was eventually resolved in favour one of her descendants; but her family was not welcomed by King James or his son: William Brooke, her son, was restored in blood in 1610, but not to the Barony of Cobham; he did not request the Barony of Burgh.
The second daughter, Anne, married Sir Drew Drury; the third daughter married Francis Coppinger, whose descendant has changed his name to de Burgh; the fourth daughter Katherine married Thomas Knyvett, who was also (by modern law) Baron Berners
.
The inheritance of the Barony of Cobham and Elizabeth Brooke's quarter of the Barony of Burgh is discussed under Baron Cobham; this is not the Barony of Cobham of Sterborough held by Edward Burgh's wife, above, although the families are related.
She had six daughters, three of whom had children.
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
. The first creation was for William de Burgh in 1327.
The second, and still existing, peerage is of uncertain date. No Burgh sat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
before 1529; the grandfather of that Lord Burgh had been summoned to the House in 1487, but did not sit; whether this was sufficient to create a barony by writ is debatable.
The Barony was in abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
for over three hundred years; when it was called out of abeyance, in 1916, it was accorded precedence as of 1487.
1327 creation
William de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster was summoned to the English Parliament in 1327 and 1328, by writs addressed Willelmo de Burgh, which, by modern law, would create a Barony of Burgh; he was also summoned in 1331 as Comes de Ulton' (that is, Earl of Ulster) for a Parliament discussing Irish affairs. Insofar as these created English peerages, they were merged in the Crown when Edward IV, his distant descendant, acceded to the throne in 1461.1487 creation?
Sir Thomas Burgh of Gainsborough, a distinguished Yorkist, was summoned to the Parliament of 1487 under Henry VII of EnglandHenry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
; there is no evidence he attended. Some three weeks later, Henry VII signed a warrant ordering a writ to be issued for him, since the King intended to raise him to the pre-eminence of Barony, but no second writ was issued, nor was a patent. He was issued writs, but did not attend Parliament, for the rest of his life, until 1496; official documents call him a knight, not a peer.
His son, Sir Edward Burgh was never summoned to the House of Lords, although he was elected to the House of Commons in his father's lifetime. In 1510, he was found a lunatic, being "distracted of memorie." His wife was Anne Cobham
Anne Cobham
Anne Cobham may refer to* Anne Brooke, Baroness Cobham, born Anne Braye* Anne Burgh, Baroness Cobham of Sterborough in her own right, born Anne Cobham...
, by modern doctrine Baroness Cobham of Sterborough.
In the third generation, Sir Thomas Burgh, Sir Edward's son, was summoned to the first Parliament after his father's death, and admitted on 2 December 1529. In the sixteenth century, this was treated as a new creation; Thomas, Baron Burgh, yielded precedence to the Barons Hussey
Baron Hussey
The barony of Hussey has been created three times in the Peerage of England. Of these, one creation is abeyant while the other two are extinct....
, Windsor
Baron Windsor
There have been several titles created in the name of Windsor.The first was that of Baron Windsor, in the Peerage of England, created by writ of summons in 1529 for Sir Andrew Windsor of Stanwell...
, Wentworth
Baron Wentworth
Baron Wentworth is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1529 for Thomas Wentworth, who was also de jure sixth Baron le Despencer of the 1387 creation. The title was created by writ, which means that it descends according to the male-preference cognatic...
, all created 1 and 2 December 1529.
By modern law, the events of 1487 would not normally constitute a creation, for the elder Sir Thomas never sat as a peer; nevertheless, in 1916, the revived peerage was given precedence as of 1487. Sources vary, therefore, in calling the younger Sir Thomas 1st or 3rd Baron Burgh; this article calls him 1st, de jure 3rd.
Abeyance
The most prominent of the Lords Burgh, Thomas Burgh, 3rd Baron Burgh, grandson of the baron of 1529, was Lord Deputy of IrelandLord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
; when he died in 1597, he left four daughters, all of whom married and had children, and an infant son. When his son died at the age of eight, the barony of Burgh (according to modern law) went into abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
between the daughters. By this, each daughter had a quarter share of the barony, which she transmitted to her heir; none of them holds the barony unless the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
decides which of the four co-heirs is to have it; in this case it was not decided until 1916. (The first exercise of this power was in 1604, two years after the death of the young Baron, in the case of Baron le Despencer
Baron le Despencer
The title Baron le Despencer has been created several times by writ in the Peerage of England.-Creation:The first creation was in 1295, when Hugh the elder Despenser was summoned to the Model Parliament. He was the eldest son of the sometime Justiciar Hugh le Despenser , who was summoned in 1264 to...
.)
The eldest daughter of the Lord Deputy, Elizabeth, had married George Brooke
George Brooke (conspirator)
The Rev. Sir George Brooke was an English aristocrat, executed for his part in two plots against the government of King James I.-Origins and education:...
, who was executed and attainted in 1603, for his part in the Bye Plot
Bye Plot
The Bye Plot was a conspiracy by a Roman Catholic priest, William Watson, to kidnap James I of England and to force him to repeal anti-Catholic legislation.-Background:...
against King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
; he was heir to Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham was an English peer who was implicated in the Main Plot against the rule of James I of England.- Life :...
, who was also attainted for his part in the Main Plot
Main Plot
The Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers, to remove King James I from the English throne, replacing him with his cousin Arabella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, and funded by Spain...
. None of this affected Elizabeth Brooke's rights, and the abeyance was eventually resolved in favour one of her descendants; but her family was not welcomed by King James or his son: William Brooke, her son, was restored in blood in 1610, but not to the Barony of Cobham; he did not request the Barony of Burgh.
The second daughter, Anne, married Sir Drew Drury; the third daughter married Francis Coppinger, whose descendant has changed his name to de Burgh; the fourth daughter Katherine married Thomas Knyvett, who was also (by modern law) Baron Berners
Baron Berners
Baron Berners is a title in the Peerage of England.-From creation to first abeyance :The title was created in 1455 for Sir John Bourchier, youngest son of William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu, and younger brother of Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex and William Bourcher, Baron FitzWarine...
.
The inheritance of the Barony of Cobham and Elizabeth Brooke's quarter of the Barony of Burgh is discussed under Baron Cobham; this is not the Barony of Cobham of Sterborough held by Edward Burgh's wife, above, although the families are related.
Inheritance and revival
By the late eighteenth century, Elizabeth Brooke's inheritance was again united in Sir William Boothby, 4th Baronet; when he died in 1787, the quarter of the Barony of Burgh, and the heirship to Cobham, passed to his only sister, Mrs. Mary Disney.She had six daughters, three of whom had children.
Barons Burgh (1327)
- For the further descent of this title see Earl of Ulster#Second creation (1264)
- William de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster, 1st Baron Burgh.
de jure Barons Burgh
- Thomas Burgh, de jure 1st Baron Burgh (1431- 1496)
- Edward Burgh, de jure 2nd Baron Burgh (1464-1528)
Barons Burgh (1529)
- Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron BurghThomas Burgh, 1st Baron BurghThomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh or Borough , 1st Baron Borough of Gainsborough, also de jure 5th Baron Strabolgi and 7th Baron Cobham of Sterborough, was an English peer. He was knighted on Flodden Field in 1513 where he was one of the King's Spears . He was a Member of Parliament in 1529 and Lord...
(1488-1550), by the decision of 1916 3rd Baron. - William Burgh, 2nd Baron Burgh or 4th Baron(1522–1584).
- Thomas Burgh, 3rd Baron Burgh or 5th Baron (1558–1597). Ambassador to Scotland, Lord Deputy in Ireland.
- Robert Burgh, 4th Baron Burgh or 6th baron (1594–1602).
- By modern law, title abeyant 1602
Revived 1916
- Alexander Henry Leith, 5th Baron Burgh (1866–1926) (abeyance terminated 1916)
- Alexander Leigh Henry Leith, 6th Baron Burgh (1906–1959)
- Alexander Peter Willoughby Leith, 7th Baron Burgh (1935–2001)
- Alexander Gregory Disney Leith, 8th Baron Burgh (b. 1958)
Re-enactment
- Sir Thomas Lord Burgh K.G.'s Retinue (1460–1496) Historical Interpretation and Living History from the Wars of the Roses
- City of Lincoln Waites The Mayor of Lincoln's Own Band of Musick